Elk Tactics 101 - Episode #12

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: Late September 2016/1130 AM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Partner Hunt
Tag: Archery season; any branched bull

Some damn fine calling by your partner this morning resulted in a shot for you! Your shot was a hair over 30 yards at a slight downhill angle. You had a feeling that is now confirmed, that you'd hit a bit high on the bull's right side. There was a distinct "crack" at the arrow impact and you feel that you may have hit a rib going in... and you saw the back part of the arrow flagging up and down as the bull ran and you later found the broken piece of arrow (12" of the fletched end) after you began tracking, 150 yards away in some huckleberry brush. After setting down for close to an hour after the shot, you and your buddy began tracking the wounded bull. The blood trail was not good but there was enough blood and sign to follow the bull to the point where you see him now. You and your buddy have a visual on the bedded/wounded bull 40 yards away and 1. He's slowly lifting his head up and down 2. You think you see the arrow/BH sticking out about 10 inches on the left side and quite a bit of blood on his side 3. You have the thermals in your face 4. It's been close to two hours since you had shot the bull 5. The temps are really heating up and it's supposed to be in the 80s this afternoon 6. You are very accurate with your bow at 40 yards but there are wispy spruce and fir branches protruding from the small trees between you and the bull that would require your arrow to be perfectly placed through.

Your move. What do you feel you may do in this situation to take this bull home for dinner?



Reminder that if you save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, you'll be able to place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg or png and add the marked up pic with your post.

[theleo]

I'd range the trees between me and him and see where the limbs are in my sight when I put the 40 pin on him. If my 40 pin is on him but branches are at 30 and my 30 pin is on them then I'm backing off to where I can keep an eye on him and wait for him to expire. If I can take a shot the location will be dependent on the distance of those branches and the trajectory of my arrow as to where I hold on him. 

[kentrek]

Looks to only be one limb that could be a issue...range the limb...thread the needle and get another arrow in him

I've watched a real nice bull do the head bob thing for nearly two hours only to wonder off into the brush and never be seen again....

Also the only elk I've personally lost was on a shot almost exactly like this scenario....not a fan of High lung

[tonymiller7]

Range the stick, take a knee to take it more out of the equation and let him have it!

[D-Rock425]

Anywhere I can get an arrow into that animal I'll shoot.  Have no problem letting arrows fly. .

[WSU]

Looks to only be one limb that could be a issue...range the limb...thread the needle and get another arrow in him

I've watched a real nice bull do the head bob thing for nearly two hours only to wonder off into the brush and never be seen again....

Also the only elk I've personally lost was on a shot almost exactly like this scenario....not a fan of High lung

I had a bull a few years ago that ran about 40 yards after the shot and starting doing the head bob.  Long story short, I put a finishing shot in him about 2 miles and 5 or so hours later.  It was a liver hit that would have been fatal but certainly not quick.

As others have said, if I could slip an arrow in there I'd let one fly. 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Both you and buddy draw and shoot at the same time.

[Dan-o]

Don't stop shooting at a breathing elk.....

[pianoman9701]

The heat's not going to be a factor until he dies, which will probably be 6-8 hours, unless an artery is severed, and then it'll be quick anyway. If you can't get a shot that you're positive will clear all obstructions, you risk bumping him and losing him altogether. Sit and wait somewhere you can keep an eye on him but where he won't wind you if the thermals turn later in the day.

[Dan-o]

NO!!!!

Shoot him, and then shoot him again if needed!!!!!

[Dan-o]

And then shoot him again!

[theleo]

NO!!!!

Shoot him, and then shoot him again if needed!!!!!

Just curious as to how many shots you can get off with a bow at a target that's 40 yards away in the time it takes a wounded bull to get up and run off? Screw the first shot up by hitting an obstruction and you won't be getting a second shot until you track him down to where he lays down next. Shoot till he's dead is easy enough with a rifle, with archery equipment not so much.

[Dan-o]

As many as it takes!     

If he's still breathing, he needs another arrow.     

Never let a wounded elk walk away if you can do something about it.   

[Dan-o]

P.S.   This bull is still head bobbing two hours after being shot. If he's still bleeding out, he's not doing it with much enthusiasm.    Give him a reason to die.    Shoot him again already.

[pianoman9701]

Dan-O, you may have missed the part that said there were branches in the way. Why not wait if he's lying down and bobbing his head? If you wait, there's absolutely no chance of alarming and pushing him. If you shoot and your arrow is deflected, he's gone. I've lost an elk due to over-zealousness. I'll try never to do that again.